Big Wave Bay

　　Big Wave Bay refers to the one in Sai Kung, New Territories. Located within Sai Kung Country Park, it's an excellent spot for windsurfing. The sea here is wide open with strong winds, which has formed broad sandy beaches and numerous small bays (Big Wave Bay includes four bays: Eastern Bay, Big Bay, Ham Tin Bay, and Big Wave West Bay). It is a fantastic beach destination, featuring a wide shoreline, fine and soft sand, clean seawater, and surging waves—qualities unmatched by other beaches. To the south of Big Wave Bay lies another bay called Lamma Cha Wan, bordered by High Island Reservoir to the west. This sheltered bay is deep-set with a narrow mouth, flanked by headlands that block incoming waves from the open sea, making the waters inside calm and ideal for general swimmers. Big Wave Bay is a well-known beach resort and a prime location for camping and picnicking, thus the best time to visit is from May to October each year, especially July and August when the waves are particularly fierce—unparalleled by other beaches.

　　Big Wave Bay is a beach in Hong Kong, situated on the central eastern coast of the Southern District of Hong Kong Island, south of Mount Davis and north of Shek O. Big Wave Bay Beach is currently one of the beaches managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, equipped with changing rooms, shower facilities, and lifeguard services. The beach also offers barbecue areas. It holds significant importance in Hong Kong’s tourism industry.

　　Hong Kong’s Big Wave Bay boasts a long stretch of natural coastline, lined with steep cliffs and rugged rock outcrops. Many recessed coves and sandy beaches along the shore form true "bays," such as the secluded and tranquil Big Wave Bay. Nestled at the foot of the hills of Shek O on the eastern peninsula of Hong Kong Island, the bay ends at the serene and isolated Shek O Beach. The small island in front of the bay, Five Fingers Island, resembles a blocking screen. This Shek O Big Wave Bay is known for its powerful waves, directly receiving swells from the South China Sea. Usually, locals rarely visit here, and the few dozen elderly people seen are actually part of a local community day trip. However, whenever a typhoon approaches Hong Kong, this place becomes a hotspot for young thrill-seekers to chase the wind and waves.

　　Hong Kong isn't very big; after switching to the MTR and getting off at Shau Kei Wan, you can take the double-decker Bus 9 or a minibus, traveling along Hong Kong Island through Tai Tam Gap, Tate's Cairn Pass, and the Davis Trail before descending to Big Wave Bay. But not long into the ride, the crowded and noisy shopping streets of Mong Kok, the clanking trams of Central, and the throngs of tourists in Causeway Bay are all left behind the mountains. Riding along the quiet, deserted mountain paths in the space-starved urban landscape of Hong Kong is truly a delightful experience.

　　Descending from Mount Davis toward Big Wave Bay, what strikes you most is the breathtaking sight of numerous sea caves. The tuff rocks here have well-aligned joints, with fracture surfaces that are blocky, columnar, or forked. Years of tropical rains and the scouring of storm surges have gradually eroded these joints into sea caves or fissures. Nature has arranged these holes and gaps in orderly patterns—some as high as tens of meters, others extending several meters deep—like undulating battlements.

　　Shek O Beach isn’t very long, only about 200 meters. But arriving on this empty shore in the morning gives a sudden sense of openness. The sand is fine and clean, and the water is crystal clear. According to the beach grading by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, its water quality is Class 1—excellent, even better than Repulse Bay. Moreover, with rare vehicles and few pedestrians, it retains the charm of old rural Hong Kong. As a result, diving into the azure waters and swimming feels like an intrusion into the surrounding tranquility. At the northern end of the bay lies the town of Shek O, an old-fashioned village with traditional streets, where giant banyan trees shade this miniature settlement. Along the entrance street are rows of shops selling daily necessities. The most eye-catching is a street-corner open-air bar with a canopy, perfect for sharing iced drinks or milk tea with friends. At this moment, watching local vendors doing small business with the occasional tourists brings a unique sense of peace.

　　Winding through old residential alleys and short lanes, you’ll then come across a slope lined with plane trees. The hillside path is dotted with villas nestled against the hills and facing the sea. At the end of the slope, there’s a sudden cliff exposed to the sea breeze. Nearby, a path leads up to the nearby island of Tai Tau Chau, separated by a strip of water. The winding trail along the ridge of Tai Tau Chau is called “Dragon’s Back.” Hiking step by step along the Dragon’s Back, the scenery below continuously transforms. Upon reaching the viewing platform at the top, the green mountains, blue waters, and the merging sea and sky present a breathtaking panoramic view.

　　Seeking out these unique sights of Hong Kong amid its beaches, islands, and vast seas is truly like “stealing a half-day of leisure from life.”